THE Drakenstein Municipality’s Tourism Unit recently underwent a stringent process with the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) in order to be ISO 9001:2008 Certified.
Drakenstein Municipality’s Tourism Unit has become the first municipal tourism unit in South Africa to be ISO 9001:2008 certified.
The Certificate was officially handed over to the mayor, Gesie van Deventer, by Frank Makamo, the SABS General Manager of Certification, on 12 August.
Makamo said, “It is my earnest desire and wish for all municipalities in South Africa to follow this excellent example set by the Drakenstein Municipality in terms of adhering to the highest standards of service delivery benchmarked against international standards.”
The Western Cape MEC for Tourism, Finance and Local Economic Development, Alan Winde described this achievement, in a key-note speech delivered in the Paarl Town Hall, as a “prestigious and historical occasion and that this unique and rare award must be vigorously marketed nationally and internationally so that the Drakenstein Municipality can obtain a competitive advantage in economic and tourism development.”
The Drakenstein Municipal Area accounts for more than 30% of all wine exports from South Africa. Consequently, this area hosts thousands of local and international tourists per annum.
It is essential that these tourists receive the best customer service which is aligned to international standards. The Municipality intends to replicate this success to other municipal departments and units encouraging them to be ISO certified thereby realising the objectives of the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, which both advocates for developmental local government seeking continued methods and processes to respond to the needs of the local community and bu- sinesses and to deliver effective and efficient services
